County profile · Alabama
Shelby County, AL market data
How Shelby County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 238,552
- +6.5% since 2020
- Households
- 86,866
- Median household income
- $97,961
- +25.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $326,100
- Jobs located here
- 95,355
- Highest market score
- 82
- Pet stores, #40 of 974 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Shelby County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Shelby County has an estimated 238,552 people and 86,866 households. Population estimates show Shelby County grew 6.5% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Shelby County is $97,961, 21% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Shelby County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (97).
Of the business types scored in Shelby County, pet stores (82), laundromats (81) and coffee shops and cafes (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet stores, that ranks #40 of 974 scored counties.
Shelby County is part of the Birmingham metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for coffee shops and cafes (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Shelby County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Shelby County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet stores | 82 | #40 of 974 | 16 | 1.8 | $5.8M | 128 | 6 |
| Laundromats | 81 | #60 of 785 | 10 | 1.2 | $19M | 152 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 79 | #115 of 2,063 | 56 | 6.4 | $6.9M | 186 | 47 |
| Convenience stores | 79 | #197 of 2,261 | 66 | 7.6 | $8.7M | 111 | 22 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 79 | #202 of 2,402 | 135 | 15.5 | $4.3M | 126 | 56 |
| Grocery stores | 79 | #218 of 2,070 | 45 | 5.2 | $12.8M | 137 | 34 |
| Funeral homes | 78 | #87 of 1,472 | 8 | 0.9 | $1.5M | 219 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 77 | #202 of 2,405 | 451 | 51.9 | $853K | 129 | 121 |
| Child care and preschools | 75 | #165 of 1,611 | 52 | 6.0 | $1M | 100 | 39 |
| Car washes and detailing | 73 | #167 of 1,451 | 33 | 3.8 | $2.8M | 111 | 12 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 73 | #307 of 2,087 | 108 | 12.4 | $1.8M | 138 | 41 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 73 | #310 of 2,405 | 767 | 88.3 | $502K | 135 | 374 |
| Spas and skin care | 72 | #180 of 1,769 | 67 | 7.7 | $1.3M | 153 | 18 |
| Chiropractors | 71 | #218 of 1,490 | 39 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 119 | 19 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 71 | #356 of 2,210 | 154 | 17.7 | $1.2M | 140 | 48 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 70 | #271 of 1,889 | 73 | 8.4 | $5.3M | 127 | 55 |
| Electricians | 69 | #184 of 1,160 | 25 | 2.9 | $11.5M | 96 | 59 |
| Auto repair shops | 69 | #385 of 2,378 | 180 | 20.7 | $512K | 115 | 81 |
| Pizza | 68 | #367 of 2,090 | 62 | 7.1 | $6.2M | 122 | 201 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #472 of 2,401 | 310 | 35.7 | $297K | 111 | 122 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 66 | #298 of 1,327 | 23 | 2.6 | $4M | 130 | 30 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 65 | #252 of 1,334 | 36 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 115 | 28 |
| Barbershops | 65 | #345 of 1,356 | 48 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 64 | #512 of 2,200 | 112 | 12.9 | $828K | 94 | 65 |
| Veterinarians | 63 | #433 of 1,485 | 37 | 4.3 | $2.5M | 92 | 36 |
| Hair salons | 62 | #602 of 2,339 | 191 | 22.0 | $472K | 110 | 56 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 62 | #658 of 2,222 | 119 | 13.7 | $3.2M | 106 | 201 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 61 | #196 of 777 | 16 | 1.8 | $5.2M | 128 | 35 |
| Property management | 61 | #277 of 910 | 22 | 2.5 | Index only | 121 | 46 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 60 | #494 of 1,461 | 48 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 76 | 23 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 60 | #515 of 1,656 | 53 | 6.1 | $2.1M | 117 | 132 |
| Tire shops | 59 | #557 of 1,530 | 41 | 4.7 | $2.2M | 90 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 59 | #806 of 2,358 | 162 | 18.6 | $1.8M | 74 | 116 |
| Dry cleaners | 56 | #212 of 507 | 16 | 1.8 | $11.8M | 76 | 7 |
| House cleaning | 56 | #305 of 847 | 26 | 3.0 | $5.7M | 88 | 67 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 55 | #907 of 2,385 | 374 | 43.1 | $241K | 113 | 102 |
| Roofing and gutters | 54 | #515 of 1,177 | 50 | 5.8 | $5.8M | 68 | 20 |
| Pest control | 53 | #317 of 699 | 22 | 2.5 | $6.7M | 65 | 16 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #912 of 2,088 | 136 | 15.7 | $612K | 92 | 63 |
| Nail salons | 52 | #640 of 1,328 | 66 | 7.6 | $1.4M | 82 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 52 | #666 of 1,493 | 78 | 9.0 | $1.9M | 64 | 110 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 52 | #798 of 1,707 | 83 | 9.6 | $3.5M | 73 | 95 |
| Home repair trades | 51 | #1,001 of 2,057 | 158 | 18.2 | $1.8M | 75 | 174 |
| Gyms | 50 | #933 of 1,792 | 84 | 9.7 | $991K | 76 | 35 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 49 | #700 of 1,302 | 36 | 4.1 | $3.1M | 98 | 30 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 47 | #501 of 887 | 58 | 6.7 | Index only | 65 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #1,030 of 1,771 | 126 | 14.5 | $1.2M | 69 | 193 |
| Insurance agencies | 46 | #1,263 of 2,272 | 225 | 25.9 | $1.1M | 86 | 130 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 43 | #1,440 of 2,176 | 302 | 34.8 | Index only | 90 | 133 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,542 of 2,229 | 392 | 45.1 | Index only | 87 | 229 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 42 | #1,606 of 2,394 | 777 | 89.4 | $143K | 93 | 319 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 40 | #235 of 325 | 10 | 1.2 | $11.1M | 45 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | 40 | #292 of 415 | 10 | 1.2 | Index only | 56 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 40 | #996 of 1,422 | 64 | 7.4 | $1.7M | 72 | 50 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 37 | #1,429 of 1,886 | 144 | 16.6 | $769K | 78 | 88 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.5 | $23M | 168 | 12 |
Household spending in Shelby County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $92.1M | $1,060 | 111 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $285M | $3,281 | 126 |
| Food away from home | $384.9M | $4,431 | 109 |
| Groceries | $574.9M | $6,619 | 105 |
| Personal care products and services | $90.1M | $1,037 | 103 |
| Child care and other personal services | $52.1M | $600 | 103 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $83.3M | $958 | 97 |
| Medical and dental services | $110.8M | $1,275 | 99 |
| Pets | $92.8M | $1,068 | 117 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $189.5M | $2,182 | 106 |
| Vehicle insurance | $241.6M | $2,781 | 142 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $288M | $3,315 | 110 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $147M | $1,692 | 120 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.5B | $16,986 | 102 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Shelby County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 238,552+6.5% since 2020
- Households
- 86,866
- Median age
- 41.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 785 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 293
- Median household income
- $97,961+25.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $128,135
- Median home value
- $326,100
- Jobs located here
- 95,355
- Daytime population
- 222,801Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Shelby County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Alabama 8
- Jefferson County, AL667,755 people
- Chilton County, AL45,992 people
- Bibb County, AL22,130 people
- St. Clair County, AL94,166 people
- Talladega County, AL81,021 people
- Coosa County, AL10,300 people
- Tuscaloosa County, AL237,552 people
- Blount County, AL59,518 people
Questions
How fast is Shelby County, AL growing?
Population estimates put Shelby County at 238,552 people in 2025, up 6.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 86,866 households. Median household income rose 25.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Shelby County, AL spend?
Households in Shelby County spend about $1.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $574.9M on groceries and $384.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Shelby County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (97).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Shelby County, AL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Shelby County are for pet stores (82), laundromats (81) and coffee shops and cafes (79). Shelby County ranks #40 of 974 scored counties for pet stores.
How does Shelby County, AL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Shelby County is $97,961 a year, 21% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $326,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Shelby County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for urgent care and walk-in clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for coffee shops and cafes (42% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Shelby County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Shelby County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Alabama · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Shelby County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Shelby County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.